Value of Villaraigosa's tickets: $50,000, maybe more

The LA Weekly calculated the possible value of the free tickets that Mayor Villaraigosa's office acknowledges he accepted and came up with $50,000, "and perhaps as much as $100,000" depending on whether he received multiple tickets. "A staggering amount for an American politician at any level, and more than he could cover with his $223,000 salary and extensive family obligations," says the story signed by Tibby Rothman and Jill Stewart. The Weekly's list of events leaves many prices un-estimated, but the tab reaches $21,000 for Academy Awards attendance alone and $12,000 for courtside Lakers tickets.

Aftermath: Stewart sent an email this morning refuting a claim by mayoral aide Matt Szabo that the Weekly was wrong about Villaraigosa attending a Beyonce concert: "We are only reporting that the mayor was present at an event if we see a photo or can positively corroborate another way."

Bill Boyarsky: "I don’t think there is anything wrong with the mayor taking all those free tickets."